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I, n. cmwo, INSTRUMENT ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30. I918.

' Patented Oct. 14,1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l- 'WMWW 5W I By I i, W na/Mrs D. CRINO.

INSTRUMENT ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION HLED JAN. 30. I918.

Patented Oct. 14, 1919.

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INSTRUMENT ATTACHMENT. FOR PIANQS. APPLICATION HL ED JAN. 30. T918.

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INVENTOR CP/I'Ya MUM M I ATTORNEYS I I Patented ,Oct. 14,1919.

D. CRINO.

INSTRUMENT ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION 'HLED JAN. 30. 1918. 1,318,975. Patented 0ct. 14,1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEEI 4 WITNESSES Q Cr/ho A TTORNEYS D. CRINO.

INSTRUMENT ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION man 1AN.30. 1918.

Patented Oct. 14, 1919.

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WITNESSES INVENTOR 53%" P i ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DOMENIGO CRINO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE I-IALF T'O ANTHONY IOVINO,

' OF NEW YORK, N.

INSTRUMENT ATTACHMENT FOR I IANOS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 0a. 14, 1919.

Application filed January 30, 1918. Serial No. 214,472.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DOMENIGO claim, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Instrument Attachment for Pianos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. I

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: to equip a mechanically played musical instrument with auxiliary accent monotone instruments to be actuated by the note-selecting instruientality' used for actuating the musical instrument; to provide auxiliary accent instruments actuated by the instrumentality used for producing the tone in the mechanically played musical instrument; to install the auxiliary instruments above indicated in mechanically played musical instruments of usual make; to provide means for manually controlling the use of said auxiliary instruments; and to employ the instrumentality used for actuating the usual mechanically played musical instrument for at will playing auxiliary accent instruments;

Drawings.

Figures 1 and 1 are paired sections show.- ing in plan the top arrangement of auxiliary instruments adapted tobe played in concert with a mechanically played musicalinstrument of usual type;

Figs. 2 and 2 are paired sections showing in elevation the instruments shown in said Figs. 1 and l", and operatingparts thereof, and also portions of the pneumatic mechanism operatively connecting the same with the trackerof a mechanically played instrument, together With a manually actuated keyboard for controlling theuse of the auxiliary instruments v Fig. 3 is-a schematic view showingin vertical section and in correlated arrangement a fragment of a perforated playing sheet, tracker for operating therewith an auxiliary monotone instrument, pneumatically actuated automatic mechanism for operating the same when permitted, and a manuallycontrolled valve for permitting the actuation of said automatic mechanism; v

Fig. 4: is a diagrammatic view illustrating the o erative relation in a mechanically played instrument of usual construction.

therein.-

when equipped with instrumentalities of the character herein disclosed.

Description. In the present disclosure, it should be primarily understood that the auxiliary instruments referred to are of the monotone type, such as drums, cymbals, triangles, etc., generally used as accents in a musical scheme for emphasizing the time of the composition. Heretofore the playing instrumentalities, such as perforated sheets or ribbons, have been provided with means for actuating such auxiliary instruments. I 7 As distinguished from the, former con struction, it will be understood that in the present invention the auxiliary instruments are played by means of the'original actuating sheet without special provision being made Some of the tubes from the tracker bar are branched, onebranch controlling the piano action, andthe other branch controlling a drumor other'instrument. To be more explicit, each tube 20 has a branch 23 controlling the piano action, the branch 69 controlling the drum. Further distinction will be seen in that the auxiliary instruments herein disclosed are incorporated in a distinctive structure adapted for installation on a piano of usual for. When combining the auxiliary instruments and piano, the top of the piano is removed and the bottom 11 of the containing case for the auxiliary instruments is adj usted in place thereof. The bottom 11 forms a support for the various pneumatics for operating the snare drum 12, cymbals 13, or triangle 14, these being the only instruments shown in the drawings. Ifdesired,- the number and variety of instruments may be amplified, but it should be understood that all instruments herein designated as aux iliary instruments are of the single tone type, none of said instruments being intended to cooperate with the piano in carrying the melody. As seen best in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the openings 15 of the tracker 16 with which the. piano-player is provided, are furnished in the majority of instances withtubes 17 that lead to the pneumatics 18shown by diagram in Fig. 4, which operate the keys 19 of the piano withthe consequent production of musical melody. Certain of the openings 15 are operatively connected. by .flexime pipes 20 with the equalizing chambers 21 of the switch valve bar 22.

As seen best in Figs. 1 and 1 the bar 22 extends lengthwise of the casing and is connected by a series of flexible pipes 23, with the piano-playing pneumatics 18. Between each pair of pipes 20 and 23, is interposed a diaphragm 24 and a valve 25. The diaphragm 24 forms the bottom of the chamber 26. The chamber 26 is connected with an exhaust chamber 27 connected with the main suction of the piano-playing mechanism, by means of a pipe 28. Normally, the stem 29 and the valve 25 and valve 30 carried thereby, depress the diaphragm 24, so that the valve 30 closes the passage 31 leading from the chamber 26 to the atmosphere. In this action, the suction in the chamber 26 holds the valve 30 to its seat. A passage 32 connects the passage 31 and avestibule 33 from which vestibule leads the pipe 23 to some particular pneumatic 18 of the piano-playing mechanism. In other words from certain of the passages 15, the pipes operate one of the valves 30 to admit atmospheric air through the passage 31, passage 32, vestibule 33 and pipe 23.

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 1, that the drum 12 and cymbals 13 are each provided with twelve drumsticks or hammers 34. Each of the hammers 34 is operatively connected with operating bellows 35, as shown best in Fig. 3. It will also be noted by reference to the diagram in Fig. 4, that the pipes 20 connecting the tracker 16 and switch valve bar 22, are extended from the said tracker at various points on the said tracker. In said Fig. 4, two groups, one of five pipes 20 and the other of six pipes 20, are extended from the said tracker. It will be understood that other distributions may be employed, if nec essary. Thus, the group of six pipes 20 and the group of five pipes 20, may be distributed and arranged in groups of twos or threes, as the case may be, the intention being to distribute the pipes 20 for operating the drum from holes anywhere on the tracker. A like office is performed for the cymbals 13 and the pneumatics connected with the hammers 36 thereof, by the tubes 37,which for the convenience of illustration, are shown on the tracker as grouped over one continuous section thereof. It will be noted that there are twelve drumsticks 34 and eleven hammers 36, while the diagram discloses eleven pipes 20 and eleven pipes 37. The twelfth pneumatic and drumstick 34 connected therewith is supplied by the pipe 38, which is in opened communication with the opening 39, which is provided on the tracker for the pedal-operating mechanism, the pneumatic 40 of which is connected therewith through the pipe 41, as seen at the right of Fig. 4.

'52, is employed, and that each pneumatic is operably connected by auxiliary suction pipes 53, 54, and 56, with the bar 22 and one of the valve chambers 57 thereof.

The chambers 57 are preferably located in special sections 58 of the valve bar 22. Each section 58 communicates with the exhaust chamber 27 of the bar 22. The chamber 57 is normally closed from the suction chamber 26 with which it is associated, by a valve 59, the foot 60 whereof rests on a flexible diaphragm 61. The diaphragm 61 functions in the same manner as the diaphragms 24 and each of the said diaphragms closes one side of the chamber 21 into which a pipe 62 delivers atmospheric air whenever the valve 63 controlling the entrance to the said pipe is opened. To depress the said valve 63, there is provided a key-pad 64 located near the keyboard of the piano to be manipulated by the attendant or operator of the same.

As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the number of key-pads 64 corresponds with the number of sections 58 and the number of auxiliary instruments. Each section 58 is connected by an independent suction pipe, with one of the said auxiliary instruments and the operation of the valve 59 in each of the sections 58 is controlled by one of the relief pipes 62 and the key-pads 64 coiirdinated therewith.

'I Vhen a player-piano mechanism is provided with an auxiliary instrument playing iechanism therefor constructed and arranged as shown and described, the operation of the piano is as follows:

The usual music roll or sheet 65 is disposed in operative relation to the tracker 16. Each of the openings in the tracker except that indicated by the numeral 39, which has an independent function, is correlated with a pneumatic 1.8. which operates to produce a certain tone. 'The openings 15 which have been selected for operating the various auxiliary instruments, function in the same manner as the remainder of the openings, with the variation only that as 5 each of the openings 15 is exposed by perforations 66, atmospheric air is admitted to one of the chambers 21 below the corresponding diaphragm 24, and the suction in the chamber 26 corresponding therewith 1 through lifts the said diaphragm andthe valve 30 operatively connected therewith. This opens the passage 32 to the atmosphere and the pipe 23, the pneumatic 18 is operated in the usual manner.

Unless one or be depressed to open the valve 63 corresponding therewith, the auxiliary instruments remain mute, the pneumatics operating the same being unaffected. If, however, the person operating the playerpiano, desires to introduce any of the auxiliary instruments, he opens the valve 63 corresponding to the instrument selecte It will be observed that in the usual playerpiano actions, the valve chests are pr1 marily controlled by a suction mechanism. Each of the valve chests controlling the various auxiliary instruments 12, 13 and 14 is operated by means of the suction as connected by the pipes 53, 54, 55 and 56, with the main suction pipe 28 and chamber 27 connected therewith. I

The schematic arrangement shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings illustrates the mechanism which is connected with the valve chests 51 for operating the drum 12. To bring these valve chests into action, the operator depresses the key 64 of the valve 63, and permitsair to enter the pipe 62. The air entering through the pipe 62, enters the chamber 21 below the diaphragm 61 and permits the suction above the diaphragm to lift the same. The surface of the diaphragm 61 being greater than the exposed surface of the valve 59, the latter is lifted and the full suction effect is transmitted by means of the pipe 53, to the exhaust chamber 68 in the valve chests 51.

It will be understood from the foregoing that when the key-pad 64 is depressed, all of the valve chests 51 controlling the twelve drumsticks 34 and bellows 35 therefor, are placed in condition to respond whenever the pipe 69 connecting any one of the valve chests with one of the chambers 33 in the bar 22 are opened to the atmosphere through the lifting of the valve 30 corresponding therewith.

From the above it will be understood that the lifting of each particular valve 30 and the corresponding opening of each of the chambers 33 depends in the first instance on the exposure of the opening 15 in the tracker 16.

By distributing the twelve openings 15 which cooperate with the valve chests 51 for operating the drum, the exposure of one of said openings 15 and the operating of one of the drumsticks or hammers 34 is insured. It may prove in the operation of the auxiliary mechanism that two or more of the openings 15 may be exposed simultaneously. If so, this would result only in op erating a like number of the drumsticks 34.

other of the key-pads 64 The above is also true of the mechanism for operating each of the other auxiliary instruments. hen the corresponding key; pad 64 is depressed, the perforations in the music roll opposite the opening 15 which is assigned to the operation of the drum 12, admits air through to the chamber 21 to lift the valve 30 and so supply atmospheric air to the chamber 33 in the bar 22, and thence by Way of the pipe 69, admit air below the diaphragm 70 in the chamber 68. The said diaphragm 70 and valve '71 operatively connected therewith, is lifted and the chamber 68 is placed in operative communication by way of the passage 72 with the interior of the bellows 35, the collapsing of which brings the drumstick 34 into contact with the head of the drum 12.

Immediately the opening 15 is closed by the solid portion of the sheet 65, the suction in the chambers 26, 27, and pipe 28 connected therewith, reduces the air pressure in chambers 21. The suction then operates on the valve 30 to close the same. The suction through the pipe 53 then operates to close the valve 71, permitting the equalization of the atmospheric condition within the bellows 35 and a consequent removal of the drumstick 34 from the drum 12.

If the key-pad 64 remains open, the next exposed opening 15 will produce in another pneumatic the same operation. As long as the key-pad is depressed, each successive perforation 66 passing one or more of the openings 15, permits the operation by the suction of the playing mechanism and the valve chests 51.

It will be understood that if the operator desires simultaneous operation of any two or more of the auxiliary instruments, he may secure this by depressing the corresponding key-pads 54. It will be noticed that the pipes 3 which are connected with the openings 15 and to the mechanism for playing the cymbals, are all located in the lower end of the tracker in correspondence with the lower register of the keyboard of the piano. The reason for this arrangement is that cymbals are what might be termed the accent instrument of the accompaniment, and are only required as an adjunct to the lower notes of the composition.

Claims.

1. The combination withapneumaticallycontrolled key operated musical instrument, of a tracker, an auxiliary musical instrument, tubes communicating with the openings in the tracker, certain of said tubes having branches controlling the key-operated instrument, said tubes having other branches controlling the auxiliary musical instrument.

2. The combination with a pneumatically controlled key-operated musical instrument,

of a tracker, a plurality of auxiliary musical instruments, tubes communicating with the Openings of the tracker, certain of said tubes having branches controlling the keyoperated instrument, said tubes having other branches controlling the auxiliary musical instruments, and means permitting any or all of said auxiliary instruments to be utilized in combination with the key-operated instrument.

3. The combination with a pneumatically controlled key-operated musical instrument, of a tracker, a plurality of auxiliary musical instruments, tubes communicating with the openings in the tracker, certain of said tubes having branches controlling the keyoperated instrument, said tubes having other branches controlling the auxiliary musical instruments, suction pipes, pneumatic mecln anism for each of the auxiliary instrumentoperating mechanisms and to which said suction pipes are connected, and manually movable valves 0n the key-operated instrument adapted, when closed, to prevent the operation of the auxiliary instruments.

4. The combination with a pneumaticallycontrolled key-operated instrument, of a base, adapted to be positioned in the casing of the said instrument, an auxiliary musical instrument carried by and movable with the base, a tracker, tubes communicating With the openings in the tracker, certain of said tubes having branches controlling the key-operated instrument, said tubes having other branches controlling the auxiliary musical instrument.

5. The combination with a pneumaticallycontrolled key-operated instrument, of a base, adapted to be positioned in the casing of said instrument, auxiliary musical instruments carried by and movable With said Copies of this patent may be obtained !or five cents each, by addressing the base, a tracker, tubes communicating with the openings of the tracker, certain of said tubes having branches controlling the key- OPGl'iUtGCl instrument, said tubes having other branches controlling the auxiliary musical instruments, and means permitting any or all of said auxiliaiy instruments to be utilized in combination With the key-operated instrument.

6. The combination with a pneumatically controlled key-operated instrument, of a base, adapted to be positioned in the casingof the said instrument, auxiliary musical instruments carried by and movable with the base, a tracker, tubes communicating with the openings in the tracker, certain oi? said tubes having branches controlling the keyoperated instrument, said tubes having other branches controlling the auxiliary musical instruments, suction pipes, pneumatic mechanisms for each of the auxiliary instrument operating mechanisms and to Which the suc tion pipes are connected, and manually movable valves on the key-operated instrument adapted, When closed, to prevent the operation of the auxiliary instruments.

7 The combination With a pneumaticallyoperated piano, a tracker, a series of tubes connecting the tracker With the pneumatic mechanism of the piano, of a series of auxiliary musical instruments supported b y the piano, pneumatic mechanisms controlling the operation of the auxiliary instrmnents, and certain of said tubes having branches connecting their openings in the tracker with the pneumatic mechanisms of the auxiliary instruments, whereby said instruments are caused to play simultaneously with certain keys of the piano.

DOMENICO ORINO.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

